When I’ve thought about what it practically takes to be a Christian, I’ve often thought about things I need to add to my life: prayer, reading Scripture, worship, church attendance, love, integrity, generosity, patience, and courage. If I could just keep accumulating more of these, maybe I’d arrive at a more Christ-like life, filled with peace and purpose. But inevitably, I can’t seem to fit it all in. Inevitably, there are always pieces I forget, things I leave out, or disciplines that feel too difficult to sustain. And what I’m left with is a mix of discouragement, frustration, and insufficiency when it comes to my spirituality.
The pressure to be more
Becoming who I want to be can sometimes feel unachievable.
It reminds me of an air mattress we owned that refused to fit back into its storage bag. Every attempt to shove it in was an exhausting battle. I’d roll and jump on it, practically cursing it. Somehow, it never seemed to fit.
And sometimes, that’s how my attempts at spiritual growth feel. I try to squeeze in every discipline I think I should be doing, but instead of looking more Christlike, my life feels like it is bursting at the seams, and I wind up frustrated and defeated.
How are we supposed to make spiritual disciplines all fit?
How are we supposed to become who God has called us to be?
Jesus’ simplicity
When I look at Jesus’ example in the Bible, following him seemed so much simpler.
He never gave long checklists or complicated schedules. He invited people to seek him, follow him, and make space in their hearts and lives to encounter him.
The Pharisees were the ones obsessed with checking the boxes, not Jesus. He seemed far more interested in our willingness to surrender our spiritual checklist than adding to it.
The life of subtraction
That’s why I’ve started to see my walk with God less as a process of addition and more as one of subtraction.
I’ve realized that when I subtract the noise and clutter, I make room for the building blocks of a relationship with God: time in his presence, worship, prayer, Scripture, meditation, and communion. These aren’t just “to-do list” items. They’re the core practices through which God actually transforms my heart.
Making space for God
Spending time alone with God isn’t about checking a box. It’s about opening myself daily to the only One who can satisfy my deepest hunger for love, purpose, and peace.
- Worship recenters my attention on him rather than myself.
- Prayer shifts my heart into trust and surrender.
- Communion awakens me to the reality that his Spirit dwells within me.
- Meditation grounds me in his truth.
These aren’t just things to add to my schedule but invitations to encounter a deep and abiding relationship with my Creator.
And here’s the incredible part: God longs for that encounter even more than I do. He wants to be with me. He delights when I draw near. And every moment I clear away distractions to notice his presence, I find myself anchored in the reality that he is closer than my breath.
Strengthening my faith and walk with Jesus is often less about addition and more about subtraction.
The invitation of subtraction
So instead of asking, “What more should I add?” maybe the better question is, “What needs to be subtracted?”
What distractions are dulling my awareness of his presence?
What habits are stealing my time and energy?
What have I elevated above him in my priorities?
For me, it’s often my phone or my drive for financial security. For you, it might be something else. But subtraction always creates room. When I put down my phone, I notice my family. When I say no to unnecessary busyness, I find space for rest. When I subtract the noise, I discover intimacy with God waiting for me.
So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by trying to “do it all,” maybe God is inviting you to try subtraction this year. Let me encourage you to spend some time taking a look at what’s taking up space in your life, and see if you can do without it.
Create space. Lighten your load. Make room for his presence.
And see what God can do when you stop trying to fit him into the margins and instead center your whole life around meeting with him.
